INTRODUCTION 1. In this series (“Give Me The Bible”), thus far we have explored… a. The Problem Of Biblical Illiteracy b. Why I Read The Bible c. Why I Believe The Bible d. Why I Love The Bible 2. But it does us no good to… a. Read the Bible b. Believe the Bible c. Love the Bible — If we are unwilling to obey the Bible! [To drive this point home, let’s first take a close look at…]
I. THE NECESSITY OF OBEDIENCE A. AS TAUGHT BY JESUS… 1. Necessary to enter the kingdom of heaven – Mt 7:21-23; Lk 6:46 a. It is not enough to believe in Jesus as Lord b. Not even to do many things in His name c. We must do the will of His Father in heaven d. We must do what Jesus says! 2. Necessary to qualify as good soil – Lk 8:15 a. It is not enough to hear (read) the Word of God b. Not even to initially do what the Word says c. We must receive the Word with good and noble hearts d. We must bear fruit with patience! 3. Necessary to be faithful disciples of Christ – Mt 28:18-20 a. It is not enough to simply believe in Jesus b. Not even to be baptized into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit c. We must be disciples of Christ (i.e., adherents) d. We must observe (do) what He says! B. AS TAUGHT BY HIS APOSTLES… 1. Necessary in order to be saved – He 5:9 a. Jesus is the author (source) of eternal salvation b. But for those who obey Him! 2. Necessary to avoid God’s wrath – Ro 2:4-11 a. The goodness of God is designed to lead one to repent b. The righteous judgment of God is coming, a day of wrath! c. Eternal life is for “those who keep on doing good” (NLT) d. Indignation and wrath is for those who do not obey the truth! 3. Necessary to avoid eternal destruction – 1Pe 4:17; 2Th 1:7-9 a. What will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel? b. Vengeance in the form of everlasting destruction! [Of course, we must understand that obedience does not earn or merit salvation (cf. Ep 2:8-9; Tit 3:4-7; Lk 17:10), but obedience is necessary nonetheless. Especially so when one considers…]
II. THE BLESSINGS OF OBEDIENCE A. AS TAUGHT BY JESUS… 1. Enables one to withstand the storms of life – Mt 7:24-27 a. It is not enough to hear the sayings of Jesus b. We must both hear and keep His says c. Only then will we be blessed to stand strong against the storms of life! 2. Qualifies one to be in the family of God – Lk 8:21 a. It is not enough to simply listen to the Word of God b. We must both hear and do it c. Only then will we blessed to be a member of the family of God! 3. The key to blessedness (joy) – Jn 13:17 a. It is not enough to know what Jesus teaches b. We must do what He teaches c. The blessedness (joy) of following Jesus is in the doing! B. AS TAUGHT BY HIS APOSTLES… 1. Delivers from the bondage of sin – Ro 6:16-18 a. We are slaves to that which we obey b. When one obeys from the heart the doctrine of God, they are set free from sin! 2. Purifies one’s soul – 1Pe 1:22-23 a. Obeying the truth purifies our souls b. It leads to being born again by the Word of God 3. Saves and blesses one’s soul – Jm 1:21-25 a. The Word has the potential to save our souls b. But we must doers, not hearers only c. Again, the blessedness (joy) is in the doing! CONCLUSION 1. Why do I obey the Bible? Because obedience is necessary… a. If we truly love Jesus – Jn 14:15 b. If we want Jesus and His Father to abide in us – Jn 14:21-24; 15:10 c. If we want to truly know the Lord and experience the love of God – 1Jn 2:3-5 2. Again, such obedience is not an effort to earn or merit salvation… a. Salvation is by grace through faith, not of works – Ep 2:8-9 b. But grace does not preclude obedience done in faith – He 5:9 c. We obey the Word of God, not to earn salvation, but to receive salvation! As Jesus stated on one occasion: “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Lk 11:28). Are you keeping (obeying) the Word of God in order to be blessed…?

“FIVE VIEWS OF Mark 16:16”
INTRODUCTION
1. There is a statement of Jesus that is so plain, and yet so controversial…
a. That you rarely hear it referred to by denominational preachers, whether it be in their churches or on TV or the radio
b. That when they do, they feel it necessary to give an explanation that goes against the clear statement of Jesus
2. I have reference to the words of Jesus as found in Mark 16:16… “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
3. To illustrate what I said earlier, let’s take a look at four different views of this verse as taught by men, and then contrast those views with the one plainly stated by Jesus and supported by His apostles in their teaching and preaching… [The first view is one held by those who do not profess to be Christians, but for the purpose of our lesson should be considered. In essence, they would say…] I. HE WHO BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED “WILL NOT” BE SAVED
A. TWO SEPARATE GROUPS HOLD THIS VIEW…
1. ATHEISTS – who do not believe in God, heaven or hell, or salvation of any kind
2. JEWS, MUSLIMS, HINDUS, etc. a. Who believe in God (or gods)
b. But who do not believe that salvation is to be found in Jesus c. And that to believe and/or be baptized is contrary to the will of God B. BUT THOSE WHO ACCEPT JESUS AND THE AUTHORITY OF HIS APOSTLES REJECT SUCH A VIEW… 1. There IS a God who offers salvation (contrary to the views of atheists) – 1Ti 2:3-4 2. Salvation DOES come only through Jesus (contrary to the Jews, Muslims, Hindus, etc.) – 1Ti 2:5-6; Jn 14:6 [Though I doubt any present actually hold to this view, there are some who do, and it only begins to illustrate how some are willing to deny the plain statement of Jesus. Consider a second view…] II. HE WHO “DOES NOT BELIEVE” AND “IS NOT BAPTIZED” WILL BE SAVED A. THIS VIEW IS HELD BY “UNIVERSALISTS”… 1. Who believe that God will save everyone eventually 2. To support their view, they will isolate some verses like 1 Ti 2:6 B. BUT THOSE WHO KNOW THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST AND PAUL LIKEWISE REJECT SUCH A VIEW… 1. Jesus Himself told that there would be few who would be saved – Mt 7:13-14 2. Paul warned of those who would not be saved, but would face the wrath of God – Ep 5:5-6 [Most “Bible-believing, professing Christians” would never treat Mark 16:16 the way the first two views do. But as we consider two more views, we may start hitting closer to “home”. But please understand…that we do so, desiring to “speak the truth in love”; and we pray that your love for the truth is such that you are willing to serious consider what follows (cf. Ac 17:11). The third “view” then…] III. HE WHO “DOES NOT BELIEVE” AND “IS BAPTIZED” WILL BE SAVED A. THIS VIEW IS HELD BY MOST WHO PRACTICE “INFANT BAPTISM”… 1. By “baptizing” (actually sprinkling, not immersing) infants incapable of faith… a. They (esp. Catholics) indicate that faith is not essential to salvation b. Some (esp. Lutherans) try to get around this by saying that God imparts saving faith to the infant so baptism can still save 2. By sprinkling or pouring instead of immersion, they also indicate Jesus did not mean what He said (the reason “BAPTIZED” above is in quotes) B. BUT SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE, WE MUST POINT OUT… 1. That faith is a necessary prerequisite… a. For baptism – Ac 8:35-37 b. For salvation – Ro 10:9-10 2. That sprinkling or pouring is NOT Bible baptism… a. The Greek word used in the Bible is “baptizo”, and it means “to immerse” b. This is why baptism is described in the Bible as a “burial” – cf. Ro 6:3-4; Col 2:12 c. Sprinkling or pouring was substituted in the place of baptism (immersion) hundreds of years after Christ and His apostles d. By keeping the “tradition of men” by sprinkling or pouring, we fail to keep the “command of God” concerning baptism – cf. Jesus’ condemnation of displacing God’s commands by traditions of men, Mt 15:3-9 3. That baptizing infants is without scriptural precedent a. There are no commands or examples of infant baptism b. Since the prerequisites of faith (Mk 16:16; Ac 8:37) and repentance (Ac 2:38; 17:30) are beyond the infant’s capability, they are not suitable candidates for baptism [I am confident that those who hold to the view of sprinkling infants are honest and sincere. But despite their honest sincerity, they are just as guilty of twisting the words of Jesus as are the atheists, unbelieving Jews (and Muslims, Hindus, etc.) and the universalists. But there is another view sincerely held by many, and that is…] IV. HE WHO BELIEVES AND “IS NOT BAPTIZED” WILL BE SAVED A. THIS VIEW IS HELD BY THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN SALVATION BY FAITH “ONLY”… 1. That one is saved BEFORE baptism 2. That baptism is not essential to salvation — This view is held for all practical purposes by most members of various denominations B. BUT JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES CLEARLY TAUGHT DIFFERENTLY… 1. That faith “alone” cannot save a. As declared by Jesus – cf. Mt 7:21; Lk 6:46 b. As taught by His apostles – cf. Ro 6:17-18; He 5:9; Jm 2:14,17,20,24,26; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jn 2:3-5 2. That baptism IS essential to salvation a. According to Jesus – Jn 3:5; Mk 16:16; Mt 28:18-20 b. According to His apostles – Ac 2:38; 22:16; Ga 3:26-27; Co 2:12-13; Tit 3:5; 1Pe 3:21[Again, I believe that those who hold this view (including personal relatives) are sincere, and are not knowingly twisting the words of Jesus. Yet, I cannot help but think of such people as Paul thought of his brethren in the flesh (cf. Ro 10:1-3). This leads us to the fifth and final view, one that I believe we are compelled to accept…] V. HE WHO BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED WILL BE SAVED A. THIS VIEW TAKES THE WORDS OF JESUS AT FACE VALUE… 1. No explanations are necessary 2. Jesus says what He means, and means what He says B. WE HAVE ALREADY SEEN PREVIOUSLY THAT THE BIBLE TEACHES… 1. That one must “believe” – cf. Ac 8:36-37 2. That one must be “baptized” to enjoy the forgiveness of sins – cf. Ac 2:38; 22:16CONCLUSION 1. Which of the five views of Mark 16:16 do you hold to? a. He who believes and is baptized “will not” be saved? b. He who “does not believe” and “is not baptized” will be saved? c. He who “does not believe” and “is baptized” will be saved? d. He who believes and “is not baptized” will be saved? e. He who believes and is baptized will be saved? — It should be clear that there is only view which is in harmony with Jesus’ words, as there is only one which does not involve “tampering” with the clear statement of Jesus! 2. But perhaps more importantly, with which of these views is your life consistent? a. One may hold intellectually to the FIFTH view… 1) But act as though they believed the SECOND view 2) How? By never confessing faith in Christ and being baptized! b. One may hold intellectually to the FIFTH view… 1) But act as though they believed the THIRD view 2) How? For though they may have been “baptized”, they are not living the life of faith required of one in Jesus! c. One may hold intellectually to the FIFTH view… 1) But act as though they believed the FOURTH view 2) How? For while believing in Jesus, they have never submitted to being baptized! Only those who have come to Jesus in faith and ACTED in harmony with His teachings can have the assurance of salvation. The words of the Bible are clear… “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'” “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” – Ac 2:38; 22:16

By Louis Rushmore
Just what is the true significance of Christian baptism? The churches of Christ are accused of making to much of Christian baptism, and going on about it all the time. The churches of Christ accuse the denominational world of making too little of baptism, and treating it as a mere formality of little to no real significance. Unfortunately, many members of the churches of Christ likewise treat baptism with little more regard than a formality or magic formula. What place, though, does the New Testament give to Christian baptism; is it a mere formality, or does it have great significance?
The act of Christian baptism concerns the utmost commitment. Christian baptism imitates the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” (Romans 6:3-5)
It is by baptism that one is buried into a watery grave with Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:12).
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, God Incarnate, died on Calvary’s rugged, cruel cross in our stead (1 Peter 2:24). It is only possible through the death of Jesus Christ that anyone can be ransomed from his or her sins (Matthew 20:28; John 1:29; Romans 4:25; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 Timothy 2:5-6). Christian baptism is an immersion in water to imitate the death and subsequent burial of Jesus Christ, a resurrection from the water to imitate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and a walking in newness of life to imitate the living after death by Jesus Christ (Romans 6:3-5).
Being immersed in water through Christian baptism involves making a sacred commitment to Jesus Christ in acknowledgement of what he has done for us. You and I should have died the excruciatingly painful death on the cross instead of Jesus (and our sins would still not have been removed since we would make imperfect sacrifices). Jesus Christ merely asks us through Christian baptism to imitate the death, burial and resurrection that he experienced for us. What could be more significant and meaningful than that, to acknowledge what Jesus did for us in his death upon the cross in his own appointed way?
Being immersed in water through Christian baptism involves making a sacred commitment to Jesus Christ in exchange for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus Christ is not asking you and me to die on the Roman cross that our sins be removed (and our sins would not be removed had we died on the cross, because we would be imperfect sacrifices). Jesus Christ died in our stead that our sins could be taken away, and he asks us to imitate his death, burial and resurrection through Christian baptism. The New Testament is filled with Scripture citations that definitively (without doubt) teach that forgiveness of one’s past sins occurs when we imitate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ through Christian baptism; a few are:
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…” (Mark 16:16).
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” (Acts 2:38).
“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).
“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 3:21).
The act of Christian baptism involves becoming a member of the body of Christ, his church. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13). The saved are added to the church by Jesus Christ himself (Acts 2:47). Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit participate in the addition of saved souls to the body or the church.
The saved and the church, then, are the same group of people. The saved of Acts 2:47 that Jesus Christ added to his church are the ones who heard the command to be baptized for the remission of sins and who were gladly baptized (Acts 2:38, 41). The apostle Paul wrote by divine inspiration that Christian baptism is the means by which the saved are placed into the Lord’s body—the church (1 Corinthians 12:13).
Consequently, the body of Christ or the church is blood bought (Acts 20:28). We who are saved are justified by the blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:9). We who are saved have redemption and forgiveness of sins through the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 2:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19). We who are saved are brought close to God through the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:13). We who are saved have peace with and reconciliation to God through the blood of Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:20). We who are saved are washed from our sins by the blood of Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:5).
The blood of Jesus Christ by which we are saved was shed in our Lord’s death, into which symbolically we are placed in Christian baptism (Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12). Christian baptism is neither a mere formality nor something to be entered into lightly. Christian baptism is serious business because it involves imitating the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christian baptism is serious business because it involves acknowledgement of what our Lord did for us, as well as a serious commitment to him.
Christian baptism is the only way the New Testament reveals that a non-Christian can come in contact with the blood of Jesus Christ, which takes away one’s sins. After one becomes a Christian through Christian baptism, he comes in contact with the saving power of the blood of Jesus Christ daily (1 John 1:7-9).

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The scriptures show that many things must take place in order for someone to have his sins forgiven:
One must hear the message of the gospel: Romans 10:14
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?
And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard?
One must believe the message: Romans 10:14; Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek him.
One must repent of one’s sins: Luke 13:1-5,6-9 (verse 3)
Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
Acts 3:19
Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord
This means a change of heart. It is shown by a change of actions: Matthew 3:8
Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance.
One must confess his belief in Jesus: Matthew 10:32-33
Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
One must then be baptized, which means immersed, in the name (by the authority of) Jesus for the forgiveness of sins: Acts 2:38
Repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
This is done in water: I Peter 3:20-21; Acts 8:36;10:47
…who refused to obey God long ago in the time of Noah. God was waiting patiently for them while Noah was building the boat. Only a few people — eight in all — were saved by water. And that water is like baptism that now saves you (NCV).
And as they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?
One who is immersed, or baptized, is buried in water as Christ was buried in the ground, and then raised, forgiven, to walk in newness of life: Romans 6:3-4; John 3:5
Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
God saves those who do these things, and adds them to his church: Acts 2:47
And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
When one does these things, he calls on the name of the Lord: Romans 10:13
for “Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”
And now I put a question to you that was put to Paul before he became a Christian:
And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.
Acts 22:16
David Blackstone

By Robert Rushmore
As defined by Webster, faith is an “unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence.” Unfortunately, this is the definition most of the world uses. It is unfortunate because this definition is a false one in that it implies faith is a “leap in the dark.” New Unger’s Bible Dictionary gives a better definition of faith, “the body of truth, moral and religious, which God has revealed–that which men believe.” This is a true definition as it corresponds to the biblical definition of faith. Unger’s definition uses the phrase “body of truth,” which correctly implies a need for evidence that comes from God.
The Bible also shows faith requires evidence. Hebrews 11:1 actually gives a definition of faith, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” According to Strong’s, the Greek word for “substance” in this verse means “a setting under,” implying a support or a foundation. Using Strong’s for the meaning of “evidence” one finds it means “proof.” So the verse is saying that faith is the “foundation” of things hoped for and the “proof” of what is not seen. Another Bible text showing faith requires evidence is 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Prove all things.” The Greek word for “prove” means “to test.” This verse shows every teaching should be tested before it is believed by man. The testing process implies a need for evidence. Thomas is sometimes called “Doubting Thomas” because he desired proof before believing Jesus was risen (John 20:25-29). Man has ridiculed him for this desire, but the Lord did not. Jesus gave Thomas the proof he needed, thus causing him to believe. Thomas then took his faith to the next level and confessed Christ. This account, as do the above texts, shows the biblical teaching of faith based on evidence.
We now know faith requires evidence, but where does one acquire this evidence? The answer is simply “the Bible.” Romans 10:17 tells us faith comes from hearing the Word of God. The Bible gives us faith based on proof contained therein. Further, John 20:31 states Jesus did many things not recorded in the Bible, but the ones recorded were recorded as evidence so that we might believe. The evidence of these events is proof that will lead one to faith that Jesus is the Son of God. Clearly, the evidence for faith comes from the Word of God, the Bible.
Biblical faith is necessary for salvation. Romans 5:1 says we are “justified by faith.” One who is justified has been rendered just or innocent. According to the verse, this faith gives us access to peace with God, which is salvation or eternal life in heaven. John 8:24 informs that a lack of faith results in spiritual death. Salvation depends on biblical faith.
Biblical faith is necessary for salvation, but faith alone is not enough. James 2:17 says “faith without works is dead.” Quite simply, our works show our faith. James 2:19 says even the devils believe and tremble. If faith were all that is necessary for salvation, devils would have a place in heaven. Further, the Book of Romans indicates faith is more than a noun–it is a verb because it requires action or obedience. Romans 5:1 speaks of justification by faith. The beginning of the book (Romans 1:5) speaks of “obedience to the faith.” The end of the book (Romans 16:26) mentions “obedience of faith.” Context dictates the middle of the book (Romans 5:1) must refer to an obedient faith when it discusses justification by faith.
Biblical faith is different from man’s view of faith in that it requires evidence. Faith is not a “leap in the dark.” Evidence for our faith comes from the Bible. Faith is required for salvation, but faith only is not enough. Biblical faith, based on evidence, must be acted upon. Do you have biblical faith? What will you do with that faith? The devils believe and tremble. Thomas believed and confessed Jesus. What will you do with your faith?